Apparatus for winding materials, such as threads, yarns or bands into cross-wound bobbins

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises first and second yarn guides rotatable in opposite directions about respective axes of rotation which are offset from each other. Respective substantially circularshaped guide means are provided for each of the yarn guides, centered on the respective axis of rotation of each yarn guide, so that the guide tracks intersect each other at a pair of diametrically opposite points for overlapping of the thread guides at these points. Each yarn guide is connected with a rotatably driven arm member. Means are also provided for changing the positive of the guide paths relative to the drive center points of the arm members, whereby it is possible to regulate the position of the points of intersection of the yarn guides.

United States Patent i 91 Siegenthaler 11] 3,823,886 July 16,1974

I APPARATUS FOR WINDING MATERIALS,

SUCH AS THREADS, YARNS OR BANDS INTO CROSS-WOUND BOBBINS [75] Inventor: Walter Siegenthaler, Erlenhach,

. Switzerland [73] Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Scharer [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1972 [2]] App]. No.: 220,960

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 6, I971 Switzerland 1764/71 [52]- US. Cl. 242/431 [51] Int. CL. B65h 54/32 [58] Field of Search 242/43, 43.l, 43 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES'PATENTS 3,489,360 l/l970 Torsellini et al 242/43 A 5/l972 Bucher et al. 242/43 A X I r FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,l.68,893 10/1969 Great Britain 242/43 A Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle 5 7 ABSTRACT The apparatus comprises first and second yarn guides rotatable in opposite directions about respective axes of rotation which are offset from each other. Respective substantially circular-shaped guide means are pro-- vided for each of the yarn guides, centered on the respective axis of rotation of each yarn guide, so that the guide tracks intersect each other at a pair of diametrically opposite points. for overlapping of the thread guides at these points, Each yarn guide is connected with a rotatably driven arm member. Means are also provided for changing the positive of the guide paths relative to the drive center points of the arm mernbers, whereby it is possible to regulate the position of the points of intersection of the yarn guides.

13 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 1 8 I974 sum 1 or 5 PATEMEB JUL 1 6 I974 SHEET 2 BF 5 SHE u 5 3.823.886

PAIENTEDJUL 1 6 m4 PATENTED Jun 61974 SHEEI 5 BF 5' 1 APPARATUS'FOR WINDING MATERIALS, SUCH AS THREADS, YARNS OR BANDS INTO CROSS-WOUND BOBBINS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION been disclosed,for instance, in Swiss Pat. No. 448,835. I

Such construction of winding equipment offers the notable advantage of affording high winding speeds.

It is a primary objective of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned by means of which it is possible to adjust the winding length, and by means of which, in particular, it is possible to fabricate bobbins having bevelled ends, so-called pineapplebobbins. I

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to a new and improved construction of apparatus for winding different types of materials, such as threads, yarns, bands, tapes, ribbons, or the like into cross-wound bobbins or packages in an extremely reliable, efficient and economical manner, the apparatus I construction being relatively simple in design, economical to manufacture, not readily subject to breakdown, easy to use, maintain and service.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the inventive apparatus ismanifested by the features that a substantially circular-shaped'guide path is provided for each direction of rotation of the yarn guides and along which the yarn guides are guided. Each yarn guide is connected with a rotatably driven arm member. By chang ing the relative position between the guide path or tracks and the drive central points of the arm members, it is possible to regulate the position of the points of intersection of the yarn guides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will'become apparent in FIG. 2, taken substantially along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the drive connection for the yarn guides;

FIG. 5 is a top plan View of the yarn guides at the beginning of the winding operation;

, 2 FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the yarn guides upon completion of the winding operation;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified constructional form of the vanes or wings of the yarn guides; and

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a modification of the. invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Considering now the drawings, there will initially be discussed hereinafter the general overall arrangement of the exemplary illustrated winding machine or winder W. Hence, it will be observed that at the lower end of a frame 1 of the winding machine W there is arranged a support 2 for a spool 3 from which there is withdrawn the material undergoing processing, here considered illustratively as a thread or yarn'4. This thread 4 isdelivered past a conventional thread tensioningand monitoring mechanism 5 and arrives via a thread support 6 at the region of the thread guide wings or vanes 7 and 8 which deposit the thread in the form of a crosswound package upon the rotating bobbin 9. v

The bobbin 9 is seated upon a winder shaft 10. This winder shaft 10 is rotatably arranged at the outermost end of a balance or rocker arm 11 pivotably mounted at a housing 13'. This balance or rocker arm 11 is fixed upon a shaft 12 rotatably mounted in housing '13. Rocker arm 11 strives to rock or tilt in a downward counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) and the bobbin 9 then bears upon a roller or roll 14. The drive of the bobbin or winder shaft-l0 and the thread guide vanes or wings 7 and 8 which are positively connectedin driving relationship therewith occurs through the agency of a drive motor 15 via a power transmission belt 16, an infinitely variable reversible frictiondrive l7 and an endless gear belt 18 engaging with the, power-take-off shaft of the friction drive 17. This gear belt 18 is in engagement with a gear 19 driving the thread guidevanes 7 and 8 and a furthergear 22 which is operatively connected with the winder or winding shaftlO through the agency of a further gear belt 20 and a pinion-train or assembly 21. Therocker arm 11 is constructed in the form of a housing and the gear belt 20 as well as the pinion train 21 are located within this housing-like rocker arm.

At this point it is to be mentioned the rocker arm 11 and the components which are in connection therewith could also be constructed, for instance, similar to the teaching of Swiss Pat. No. 448,835. I

Further, an arm member 23 is fixed to the shaft 12 and to which are connected a control rod 24 for changing the transmission ratio of the drive 17 and the element 25 for weight balancing or compensation of the rocker arm 11.

Since the bobbin 9 bears upon the rotatably mounted support roll 14, this rocker arm 11, as the size of the wound-bobbin 9 increases, will be rocked upwardly in 'the clockwise direction of FIG. 1. Consequently, the

deflection of the rocker arm 11 via the arm member 23 and the control rod 24, will be used as a control magnitude for'changing the transmission ratio of the drive in known manner. Hence, as the size of the bobbin 9 becomes larger, the rotational speed of the drive for the winder shaft 10 as well as the yarn guides 7 and 8 will-be continuously reduced in accordance with the increase in size of the diameter of the wound bobbin 9 and thus maintain essentially constant the withdrawal 3 or pay-off speed. of the thread 4, wound upon the bobbin 9.

With the foregoing' background in mind, there will now be considered in greater detail the thread guide mechanism 26 which is located at the upper portion of the winding machine W beneath the rocker arm'l lan'd serves to carry out the cross-wise winding-up of the material which is being processed. Firstly, it will be understood that the thread or yarn guide mechanism 26 is accommodated in the housing 13. As best observed by referring to FIG. 2, this thread guide mechanism 26 embodies two plate members 27 and 28 which are spaced from one another and in substantial parallelism with one another. Plate members or plates 27 and 28 are op- 'eratively connected with one another and secured internally of the housing 13 to the sidewalls thereof in such a fashion that they extend at an inclination upwardly towards the outer or extreme end of the rocker arm or balance 11, as shown.

Plate members or plates 27 and 28 possess oppositely situated and confronting circular-shaped recesses or depressions 29 and 30, respectively, which are open towardsone another. Both of these recesses 29 and 30 are provided with a respective continuous central opening 31 and 32 respectively. Inserted into each of these recesses 29 and 30 are two coaxial ring members 33, 34 and 35, 36, respectively, which are spaced at a small distance from one another. The'outermost ring members 34 and 36 are fixedly arranged at the associated. plate members 27 and 28 respectively, whereas the innermost ring members 33 and 35 are mounted so as to be rotationally movable. Now as best seen by referring to FIG. 3, at each pair of ring members 33, 34 and 35, 36 there are displaceably guided, for movement along a circular-shaped revolving path of travel formed by each pair of ring members, two circular segments 37 and38, respectively, which are disposed at a spacing from one another. The circular segments 37 and 38 possess a cross-section approximating a T-shape and engage with their one beam member between a.

pair of ring members. The beam of the segments 37 and 38, which engages between a respective pair of rings or ring members, carries a multiplicity of adjacently disposed rotatably movable ball members or balls 39 which, similar to a ball bearing, travel in circularshaped grooves of the outer and inner rings of each ring pair.

ements 42 and 43 there is possible relative movement. Links 40 and 41 furthermore have, at their, central regions sliding block slots 44 and 45, respectively, which and therefore the thread guide'wings or vanes 7 and 8 are driven through theagency of the sliding blocks 46 and 47 which are displaceably arranged in the sliding block slots 44 and 45 respectively. 7

The upper sliding block 46 is fixed to the upper end of a shaft 48 which extends downwardly and is rotatably mounted in a box or casing 49 arranged beneath the plate members 27 and 28. The lower sliding block 47 is mounted at the upper end of a hollow shaft 50 which surrounds,.with minimum play, the shaft 48 and which is coaxially arranged and rotatable with regard to the shaft 48 and forms together therewith one member. Both shaft members 48 and 50 are driven so as to be contra-rotating by means of the drive shaft 51.

As best seen in the detailed illustration of the drive of the thread guide vanes 7 and 8 as depicted in FIG.

A respective thread guide wing or vane 7 is fixedly mounted at each upper segment 37 at the central region thereof and a respective thread guide wing or vane 8 is fixedly mounted at the central region of each lower segment 38, as best observed by referring to FIG. 3. The thread guide wings or vanes 7 and 8 are therefore located in a space between the plate members 27 and 28 and extend substantially parallel to such plate members. The respective segments 37, 37 and 38, 38 are connectedwith one another by arm members in the form of the respective links 40 and 41. For this purpose, and as also best observed by referring to FIG. 3, the segments are equipped at their central region with respective protruding bolt members 42 surrounded by a rotationally movable sleeve member 420. Further, the links 40 and 41 have at the region of their ends, respec tive slots 43 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the associated link. Each bolt member 42 together with its sleeve member 42a always engages with the associated slot 43 in such a manner that between both el- .4, drive shaft 51, which is fixedly coupled with the gear l9 depicted in FIG. 1, has two worms 52 and 53 disposed in axially adjacent relationship with respect to one another. Each of these'worms 52 and 53 meshes with a respective worm gear 54 and 55. The worm gear 54 is rigidly mounted for rotation upon the shaft 48 carrying the upper sliding block 46. The worm gear 55 is' rigidly mounted for rotation upon a shaft 56 extending parallelto the-shaft '48. At the upper end of this shaft 56 there is mounted a pinion 57. This pinion 57 meshes with the external gearing or teeth 58 of the hollow shaft 50 supporting the lower sliding block 47. By virtue of the above-described drive arrangement, the shafts 48 and 50 and thus the thread guide vanes 7 and 8 are contra-rotatingly driven through the intermediary of the sliding blocks 46 and 47 respectively.

As also apparent by again referring to FIG. 3, the re-- spective centers 59 and 60 of pairs of ring members 33, 34 and 35, 36 respectively, which form the circularshaped guide paths or tracks for the thread guide vanes or wings 7 and 8, are somewhat offset with respect to one another. The center of the lower ring pair 35, 36 is disposed at the location indicated by reference numeral 60 and the center of the upper ring pair 33, 34, not visible in FIG. 3, is disposed at the location indicated by reference character 59. Hence, the position of the thread guide vanes with regard to the centers 59 and 60 of their momentary revolving path of .travel is the same at each point of such revolving path of travel.

The thread guide vanes orwings always extend radially with respect to their associated centers 59 and 60 respectively.

Thetips of the upper vanes or wings 7, 7 shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, move along a circular-shaped path or track 61, the center of which is indicated by reference character 59, and the tips of the lower wings or vanes 8, 8 move along a circular-shaped track or path 62, the center of which is indicated by reference character 60. The connection line 63 through the point of intersection of the tracks 61 and 62 is disposed perpendicular to a straight line 65 passing through both centers 59 and 60 and intersects line 65 at'the midpoint between centers 59 and 60. The previously mentioned thread support 6 is secured to the lower plate member 28 and constructed as a circular or disc plate segment.

' As best seen by referring to FIG. 3, this circular plate 50 and which'support the sliding blocks 46, 47, is connected via a control rod arrangement with the pivot axis or shaft 12 of the rocker arm 11. This control rod arrangement will be seen to comprise a single-arm lever member 66 which is rigidly connected with the shaft 12 of the rocker arm 11. This single-arm lever 66 carries a roller 67 at one end which can be detachably mounted at different positions 68 on lever 66. A bent or toggle lever 69 is pivotably arranged in the housing 13 near the single-arm lever 66. A control cam or surface 70 is provided at the upper arm of the bent or toggle lever 69 and cooperates with the follower roller 67 of the single-arm lever 66. At the end of the lower arm of the bent lever 69 there is mounted a roll or roller 71 which cooperates with a control cam or surface 73 arranged at the upper arm of a further bent or angled lever 72 pivotably mounted in housing 13. The lower arm of the bent lever 72 cooperates with a roll or roller 73 arranged at one end of a rod 74, the other end of which is fixedly connected with the box or casing 49.- The rod 74 is guided in a guide sleeve or tube 75 mounted at the lower plate member 28. The axis of this guide sleeve 75 is disposed parallel to the above consid- I ered connection line and axis of symmetry 63 illustrated in FIG. 3. e

A rod 76 is articulated to the lower arm of the bent lever 69 at a spacing from its outermost free end. This During operation, the thread guide vanes or wings 7,

8 rotate in respective opposite directions. They possess respective control edges 79and 80. During rotation,

the vanes move across the thread support 6 and their control edges 79 and 80 displace the thread .withdrawn' from the spool 3, back and forth along the arcuateshaped outer boundary of the thread guide 6, so that the thread will be wound in the form of a cross-wound package upon the rotatably driven bobbin 9.

Owing to the eccentric position of the circularshaped paths or tracks 61 and 62 along which the vanes 7 and 8 are guided, there is obtained the result that, at the points of intersection or overlapping 81 or 82 (FIG. 5) of two oppositely rotating thread guide vanes 7 and 8, the thread 4 will be transferred from one vane 7 to the other vane 8.

FIG. 5 illustrates a position of the thread guide vanes 7, 8 at the beginning of the thread winding operation.

The axis 78 of the shafts 48 and 50 carrying the sliding blocks 46 and 47, respectively, is then located at its furthermost position with regard to the working region or operable zone of these vanes 7 and 8. Consequently, the overlapping or intersection points 81, 82 of the vanes are located in their outermost or extreme position and the winding length is greatest.

During operation, the axis 78 is gradually displaced along the straight line 63 in the directionof the working region of the vanes 7 and 8 until reaching the terminal position depicted in FIG. 6, owing to the pivoting or rocking movement of. the rocker arm 11 through the agency of the control-means defined by the control rod arrangement. Consequently, the points of overlapping or intersection 8] and 82 of the vanes approach one another until they have reached their innermost position depicted in FIG. 6. In this position, the winding length is smallest. Owing to the gradual reduction in the winding length, there is produced the so-called pi'neapplelbobbin 82 as such'has been depicted in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the vanes 7 and 8 in their one respective position. As will be observed by referring to these figures, owing to the occurring displacement of the axis 78 there is a change in sign in the bend between the vane and the sliding block in this-position.

During operation, the support roll 14 is gradually forwardly displaced by means of the control rods 66, 69, so that during the wandering of a pointof overlapping or intersection of the vanes there is always insured a correct transfer and guiding of the thread.

By carrying out modifications at the control rods 66, 69 72, such as for instance by exchanging the cams or 73, positionally shifting the roller 67, it is possible to influence the feed of the box or casing 49 and therefore the axis 78 along the straight line 63.

Instead of providing a sliding block at which there are articulated the vanes, it would be possible, as best seen by referring to FIG. 7, to hingedly connect the vanes with a respective segment 84 guided along'a circularshaped track 83 and to displace these vanes in their lengthwise direction within oneanother as shown for the vanes 8,8. Each vane is then provided with a slot which opens towards its inner end, which slots collectively form the sliding block slot 86 for accommodating a sliding block 87. The other non-illustrated contrarotating vanes 7,' 7 are then correspondingly constructed.

Now, with the illustrated embodiments and for the purpose of adjusting the winding length, the box or casing'49 is displaced together with theshafts 48 and 50 carryingthe sliding blocks, and the circular-shaped guide tracks for the vanes are stationary. Sinceas best seen in FIG. 1, the gear 19 is thus also displaced, there is provided a spring-loaded tensioning roller or roll 88 which is in engag ment with the gear belt -I8Iand insures that such remains in tensioned state.

The box 49 with the drive shafts 48 and 50could also be stationarily arranged, wherein then both plate members 27 and 28 together with the thread support 6 will be gradually displaced away from the spool 3 in their planes by a controlrod means.

. Referring to FIG. 8, which shows such an arrangement, casing'49 is fixedly connected to the housing 13 as by being secured by a bolt and nut arrangement 90 to a bracket 91 on housing 13. By contrast, the entire arrangement including the plate members 27 and 28 and the thread guide members 7 and 8, and their associated parts, is connected, through a bracket 92, to a rod 74' which is telescoped through a stationary guide sleeve 75'. A roller 73' on the left end of rod 74' engages the outer surface of a lever 72' which differs, in form, from the angle lever 72. The upper end or arm of lever 72' engages a roller 71' on the lower arm of lever 69. With the exception that the casing 49 is stationary and the plate members 27 and 28 are movable, this arrangement operates in the same manner as that previously described.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variouslyembodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for winding materials, such as threads, yarns, bands, ribbons, tapes and the like, into cross-wound bobbins, comprising, in combination, first and second thread guide means rotatable in respective opposite directions about respective axes of rotation offset from each-other, means providing respective substantially circular-shaped guide tracks for each thread guide means centered on the respective axis of rotation thereof so that said guide tracks intersect each other at a pair of diametrically opposite points for overlapping of said thread guides at said points, and along which said guide means are guided in respective opposite directions, a respective rotatably driven arm member, having a drive center point, coupled with each thread guide means, and means operatively associated with said arm members and operable to change the positions of said guide tracks and the drive center points'of said arm members relative to each other in order to alter the position of the points of overlapping of said thread guide means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said thread guide-means comprises two oppositely situated thread guides connected with each rotatably driven arm member.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, furtherincluding a drive shaft for each arm member, sliding guide means coupling each arm member with its drive shaft so that the position ofthe guide tracks relative to the drive shafts can be changed for the purpose of adjusting the position of the points of overlapping of said thread guides.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein each arm member is constructed in the form of a link, and said sliding guide means comprises a sliding block fixedly connected with the associated drive shaft and sliding along such link.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said thread guidemeans are guided along their respective circular tracks in a constant position with respect to the associated guide track, and means providing a slot-pin connection hingedly connecting said 'thread guide means with the associated arm member.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means rigidly connecting each of said thread guide means'with its associated arm member, each arm member being subdivided and both of the sections of each of said subdivided arm members being displaceably guided with regard to one another.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining each guide track comprises two concentric substantially circular rings, means mounting one of said circular rings so as to be non-rotatable and means mounting the other of said circular rings so as to be rotatable, respective slide means on which each thread guide is mounted, and movable elements rotatably mounted in said circular rings for guiding the associated slide means along the circular track.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said slide means embodysegment-shaped elements.

9. The'apparatus as defined inclaim 1 further including a pair of coaxial shaft members, and means for connecting in driving relationship each contra-rotating arm member with a respective one of said coaxialshaft members.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a roller for deflecting the thread which is to be wound into a bobbin, thebobbin bearing upon said roller, a thread support provided for the thread and having a substantially arcuate-shaped control cam, said thread guide means travelling between said roller and said thread support, and with respect thereto, alternately assuming an advanced position and a retracted position during which they displace the thread, and a control mechanism including a control cam operatively coupled with said roller, and which, with decreasing winding length, displaces said roller in the direction of the apex of the control cam.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said guide tracks are stationary and the drive center points of the arm members are adjustable.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the increasing diameter ofthe wound thread package. 

1. An apparatus for winding materials, such as threads, yarns, bands, ribbons, tapes and the like, into cross-wound bobbins, comprising, in combination, first and second thread guide means rotatable in respective opposite directions about respective axes of rotation offset from each other, means providing respective substantially circular-shaped guide tracks for each thread guide means centered on the respective axis of rotation thereof so that said guide tracks intersect each other at a pair of diametrically opposite points for overlapping of said thread guides at said points, and along which said guide means are guided in respective opposite directions, a respective rotatably driven arm member, having a drive center point, coupled with each thread guide means, and means operatively associated with said arm members and operable to change the positions of said guide tracks and the drive center points of said arm members relative to each other in order to alter the position of the points of overlapping of said thread guide means.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said thread guide means comprises two oppositely situated thread guides connected with each rotatably driven arm member.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including a drive shaft for each arm member, sliding guide means coupling each arm member with its drive shaft so that the position of the guide tracks relative to the drive shafts can be changed for the purpose of adjusting the position of the points of overlapping of said thread guides.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each arm member is constructed in the form of a link, and said sliding guide means comprises a sliding block fixedly connected with the associated drive shaft and sliding along such link.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said thread guide means are guided along their respective circular tracks in a constant position with respect to the associated guide track, and means providing a slot-pin connection hingedly connecting said thread guide means with the associated arm member.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means rigidly connecting each of said thread guide means with its associated arm member, each arm member being subdivided and both of the sections of each of said subdivided arm members being displaceably guided with regard to one another.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining each guide track comprises two concentric substantially circular rings, means mounting one of said circular rings so as to be non-rotatable and means mounting the other of said circular rings so as to be rotatable, respective slide means on which each thread guide is mounted, and movable elements rotatably mounted in said circular rings for guiding the associated slide means along the circular track.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said slide means embody segment-shaped elements.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of coaxial shaft members, and means for connecting in driving relationship each contra-rotating arm member with a respective one of said coaxial shaft members.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a roller for deflecting the thread which is to be wound into a bobbin, the bobbin bearing upon said roller, a thread support provided for the thread and having a substantially arcuate-shaped control cam, said thread guide means travelling between said roller and said thread support, and with respect thereto, alternately assuming an advanced position and a retracted position during which they displace the thread, and a control mechanism including a control cam operatively coupled with said roller, and which, with decreasing winding length, displaces said roller in the direction of the apex of the control cam.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide tracks are stationary and the drive center points of the arm members are adjustable.
 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive center points of the arm members are stationary and the guide tracks are adjustable.
 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for changing the position of said guide tracks relative to said drive center points of said arm members comprises a control mechanism including means engaging the periphery of the wound thread package and effecting such change in the relative position of said guide tracks and said drive center points in response to increasing diameter of the wound thread package. 